Would Newcastle’s energetic Frenchman be a good signing for West Brom?

Although some Newcastle fans may claim different Sissoko has always stood out as one of the better players in an under-performing team over the past three seasons, consistency has become an issue. Nevertheless, the fact that he made the French squad with relative ease after a season in which he suffered relegation does speak volumes about his potential.

His pace and power can be frightening at times, and with these traits, he would be the sort of midfielder the Baggies have not had in recent years. More athletic than both Darren Fletcher and Craig Gardner, the former Toulouse man would bring something new to the side and would suit Pulis’ classic counterattacking style.

While Sissoko may still genuinely believe he should be playing for a club in the Champions League, at this precise moment in his career, he would be better suited to a club looking to push for a top-half finish. It often seems to bring the best out of him when he knows how key to the team he is.

You only have to look at the last few months of the season, for once Rafa Benitez came in at Newcastle, he quickly realised Sissoko was the most important player in the team and made him captain. In his new leadership role, the Frenchmen’s form dramatically improved. Benitez himself said that this was partly down to his influence over the French contingent in the squad, but it was probably also down to old adage of a manager making his best player the captain of the team.

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If he can recapture his best form, West Brom will have a new talisman on their hands, potentially future captain material, and Pulis is the sort of no-nonsense manager that drags close to the pull potential out of his players. If he can hit the ground running soon after a move, we may see Sissoko reach a level he has never quite been able too in the North-East.

He can also be used effectively as a winger, some would even say this is his best position. James Morrison, Callum McManaman and James McClean are all hard-working widevplayers and know how to cross a ball. However, none of them possess anything like the pace and power of Sissoko, who could give the Baggies another dimension going forward.

With West Brom managing to tie down their Welsh to a new contract, the next thing they have to do is back him in the transfer market. This would avoid the kind of boardroom dispute that saw Pulis make a swift exit from Crystal Palace on the eve of the 2014/15 season. They are very unlikely to be dragged into a relegation battle whilst he is at the helm, but a signing of Sissoko’s quality would send signals to the rest of the Premier League that they are looking to take the step forward. The current squad; whilst effective, is looking a little worn out and recruiting a French international would kick-start the summer window for West Brom.

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